Mattress structure or the like

ABSTRACT

A bed structure or the like having a head supporting portion which is mounted to swing upwardly and downwardly to positions of different inclination relative to the main part of the bed, and which is held in its different positions by a spring pressed latch mechanism, with the latch being releasable automatically to an inactive condition in response to arrival of the head section at a predetermined upper position, so that after such release the head section can swing downwardly without restraint by the latch mechanism and past one or more of the support positions to a predetermined lowermost setting. In a double bed structure, two of the head sections may be provided, and may be mounted for movement separately to different settings so that two different persons may have individual control of their different halves of the bed.

United States Patent Fragas 5] Mar. 7, 1972 [541 MATTRESS STRUCTURE OR THE LIKE 2,519,729 8/1950 Alexander ..5/68

[72] Inventor: Restituto R. Fragas, 7035 Templeton Prime ry Examiner-Casmrr A. Nunberg Street, Huntington Park, Calif. 90256 Atwmey wmiam P. Green [22] Filed: Aug. 3, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 60,570 [57] Ami A bed structure or the like having a head supporting portion which is mounted to swing upwardly and downwardly to posifi A61 tions of difl'erent inclination relative to the mainpart of the [58] Field 5/636 75 ,68 913352 bed, and which is held in its different positions by a spring 1 0 seal a I352 pressed latch mechanism, with the latchbeing releasable automatically to an inactive condition in response to arrival of the head section at a predetermined upper position, so that after [56] References Cited such release the head section can swing downwardly without UNITED STATES PATENTS restraint by the latch mechanism and past one or more of the support positions to a predetemuned lowermost setting. in a Guttrnan.... "5/91 double structure two of the head sections may be pro- Larsen n X and may be mounted for movement to dif. 1,846,548 2/1932 GanPug et "297/364 ferent settings so that two different persons may have in- 2,702,909 I/ 1955 Atkmg r r "5/352 x dividual control of their different halves of the bed. 3,354,477 11/1967 Bartz ..5/91 X 2,828,810 4/1958 Barecki et al ..297/396 21 Claims, '10 Drawing Figures MATTRESS STRUCTURE OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to certain unique features of adjustability which are applicable to adjustable bed arrangements, and some of which features are also applicable to other similar structures such as chaise lounges, adjustable chairs, and the like. For simplicity and clarity of disclosure, the invention will be described primarily as applied to adjustable beds.

Though there have in the past been devised numerous different types of adjustable beds, in which a head section of the bed is mounted to swing upwardly and downwardly between positions of difierent inclination, most of these prior arrangements of which I am award have been structurally rather complex and therefore expensive to manufacture, and consequently have seen little use beyond the sick room. Further, these prior arrangements have in most instances been rather difficult to adjust between their different settings, and have been structurally so cumbersome as to render them too unattractive for use in an ordinary home bedroom.

SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a novel adjustable bed structure or the like, having a head portion which is adapted to swing between a number of different settings, and in which the mechanism for holding the head section in those various settings is extremely simple, inexpensive to manufacture, and so compact and small in size as to be virtually unnoticeable as differing visually from an ordinary nonadjustable bed. Further, the holding mechanism may be very easily actuable between its various conditions for holding the head portion of the bed in positions of different elevation or inclination, preferably without the necessity for actuation of any special crank or shifting mechanism, or the like.

Desirably, the latching or holding mechanism for retaining the head rest in its various set positions is operable solely by movement of the headrest itself. More particularly, the headrest or head section may be actuated upwardly through a series of different successive positions, and may be automatically retainable in any selected one of those different positions, and may ultimately be releasable for reverse or downward movement past those various settings and to a lowermost condition in response to arrival of the headrest at a predetermined upper automatic release location. For this purpose, there may be provided camming means for deflecting a latch element to a released position upon such arrival of the headrest at the specified upper position, with the lateral deflection of the latch element functioning to so locate it as to move freely past a series of coacting support shoulders upon downward movement of the headrest.

As a further feature of the invention, when the bed structure is a double bed arrangement, it is preferred that there be provided two separate head sections for use by two different individuals, with these head sections being adjustable separately to different settings so that each person may adjust his particular part of the bed to a selected condition. Each of the two head sections may be retainable in its different settings by latching mechanism of the type discussed above, with each being releasable as mentioned in response to arrival of that particular head section at a predetermined upper position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above and other features and objects of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the typical embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable mattress formed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the frame and spring structure of the FIG. I mattress, with the cloth covering of the mattress removed from the bottom and sides of the mattress in order to reveal its inner construction;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of the mattress, partially broken away, taken on line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged side view of the hinge and latch mechanism of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the latch mechanism as it appears while one of the headrests is being swung upwardly from its horizontal position of FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5, but showing the latch mechanism in the uppermost, substantially vertically extending, position of the headrest;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are vertical sections taken on lines 7-7 and 8-8 respectively of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a horizontal section taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 4, and;

FIG. 10 is a section taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIG. 1, I have illustrated at 10 a mattress which may be rectangular in horizontal outline and dimensioned for support on a conventional bedframe ll of double bed size. The mattress has a main section 12 extending across the entire width of the mattress up to a location 13 beyond which two separately adjustable head sections 14 and 15 may be provided for use by two different persons using opposite sides of the bed.

In FIG. 2, the main bedframe 11 has been omitted, and the cloth covering 116 has been broken away across most of the bottom of the bed, and along its side edges, to reveal the inner construction of the mattress. As seen in FIG. 2, the main portion 12 of the mattress has a main essentially rectangular rigid frame 16, including two parallel rigid opposite side members 17 and 18 interconnected at the foot end of the mattress by a rigid crosspiece I9. Near their second ends 20, these two side frame members 17 and 18 are interconnected by a second transverse rigid frame element 21, extending parallel to member 19 and perpendicular to interconnected elements 17 and 18. The four frame elements, l7, l8, l9 and 21 are desirably formed of appropriate angle iron stock, to give the frame maximum rigidity and strength. Near the center of the width of the bed, crosspiece 21 of the main frame 16 carries two short rigid frame elements 22 and 23 (FIG. 2), which project longitudinally of the mattress and parallel to the side frame elements 17 and I3, and whose ends 24 are aligned transversely of the mattress with the previously mentioned ends 20 of frame elements 17 and 18, to coact with those frame elements in mounting the two head sections 14 and 15.

The head sections 14 and 15 have identical rigid rectangular frames 25 and 26, which are hinged to the ends 29 and 24 of elements 17, 18, 22 and 23 by four individual latching hinge assemblies one of which is illustrated at 27 in FIG. 4 and the other related figures. Each head section frame 25 or 26 has two parallel opposite side elements 28 and 29 interconnected by two parallel transverse frame elements 30 and 31. As in the case of the various frame members forming main frame 16, these various frame elements 28, 29, 30 and 31 of the head sections may be formed of appropriate angle iron stock. The

transverse elements 31 of the head sections may interconnect the two side elements 28 and 29 at a location slightly forwardly of the extremities 32 of those side sections, so that the extremities 32 may be free for connection to elements 17, 18, 22 and 23 of the main frame section 16 by the four discussed hinge and latching assemblies 27.

The main frame 16 carries a large number of conventional coil springs 33 (FIGS. 2 and 3), which may be secured together in conventional manner, and supported peripherally by the frame elements l7, 18, I9 and 21. Extending across the upper side of the spring assembly, there is provided the usual layer or series of layers of padding 34, over which a sheet of fabric 116 forming the mattress cover may be provided, typically with tufting as indicated at 35 in FIG. 1. The mattress cover 116 and some of the padding 34 may extend downwardly at the sides of the mattress, and the cover 116 may also extend across the underside of the mattres.

The frames 25 and 26 of the two head sections l4 and 15 carry groups of interconnected coil springs 33' of the same type carried by the main frame 16, with these springs 33' being supported peripherally by the frame elements 28, 29, 30 and 31. The padding 34 which extends across the upper side of the springs of the main section 16 continues toward the head end of the bed to cover the springs on both of the two head sections 14 and 15, but of course is interrupted or divided into two halves at the location 35 (FIG. 1) at which the two head sections 14 and 15 meet one another. The cover material 116 extends downwardly about three sides of the two head sections 14 and 15 separately, and then across the undersides of these two sections separately, so that these sections are free for individual upward and downward swinging movement relative to the main section 12 and relative to one another.

To describe now one of the four hinge and latch mechanisms 27, as shown in detail in FIGS. 4-10, the angle iron configuration of the side frame element 17 of main frame section 16 is illustrated in FIG. 7, in which element 17 is represented in cross section as having a horizontal first portion or flange 36 and an upwardly projecting vertical second portion 37. The height of vertical portion 37 may be slightly increased near the extremity of element 17, to function as a portion of the latch mechanism 27. FIG. 7 also brings out the angle iron cross-sectional configuration of one of the frame elements 28 of head section 14, with that element 28 having a first portion 38 which extends horizontally in the FIG. 4 setting of that head section, and having a vertical second portion 39 received adjacent vertical portion 37 of element 17. Element 28 is connected to element 17 for upward swinging movement about a horizontal axis 40, and between the positions of FIGS. 4 and 6, by extension of a pivot screw 41 (FIG. 7) through registering apertures 42 in portions 37 and 39 of elements 17 and 28 respectively. As seen in FIG. 4, the lower corner of element 28 may be rounded at 43, to avoid interference with the desired upward swinging movement of element 28. In the horizontal position of headrest section 14, the flange 38 of element 28 engages downwardly against and is supported by horizontal flange 36 of element 17, in the relationship illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 7.

Vertical portion 37 of element 17 is cut away at its forward edge, that is, at the edge which faces toward the head end of the bed, to define a series of latching notches 43, 44 and 45, and latching teeth 46, 47 and 48, which coact with a spring pressed latch element 49 to releasably retain element 28 and the remainder of the associated head section in any of several different positions. The latch element 49 is mounted to portion 39 of element 28 for longitudinal sliding movement along an axis 149, and has at one side a surface 50 which extends parallel to that axis, and at another side a camming surface 51 disposed at an oblique angle to surface 50, and also at an oblique angle to axis 149. Latch element 49 may be formed of rigid sheet metal or the like, having a thickness corresponding substantially to the thickness of vertical flange 37 of element 17, to be receivable within any of the three latching notches 43, 44 or 45 of element 17.

As seen best in FIG. 5, the first of the latching notches 43 is defined at one side by a surface or edge 52, which may extend horizontally and is engageable by the horizontal undersurface 50 of latch element 49 in the FIG. 4 horizontal setting of the headrest section. The other side of the first mentioned latching notch 43 is defined by an inclined surface or edge 53 which extends parallel to and closely adjacent the edge or surface 51 of latch element 49 in the FIG. 4 condition of the latch mechanism, and which acts to cam element 49 leftwardly as seen in FIG. 5 upon upward swinging movement of the head section.

When the head section 14 has swung upwardly to a predetermined inclination, latch element 49 snaps into the second of the latching notches 44, as indicated in broken lines in FIG. 6. This notch 44 is defined by two edges or surfaces 54 and 55 which extend in directions corresponding to and are engageable with the two edges 50 and 51 of latch element 49 in the discussed second position of that latch element, to thereby support the head section in that inclined setting. Upon further upward swinging movement of the head section toward the second broken line position of FIG. 6, the latch element is again deflected along its axis 149 to a retracted position, by engagement of surface 51 with camming surface 55, to pass the second tooth 48 and fall into the third latching recess 45. In that next setting of the head section 14, surface 50 of the latch element engages a coacting surface 56 of notch 45, to support the head section against downward movement from that second inclined setting. Upon further upward movement of the head section and its carried latch element 49, the. latter moves into engagement with a camming surface 57 formed on frame element 17, and is deflected laterally by that cam surface to the position of FIG. 10, in which it canmove freely downwardly pas the teeth 47 and 48 and to the initial horizontal FIG. 4 setting, as will be brought out in greater detail at a later point.

To first bring out the manner in which latch element 49 is mounted to element 28 of the head section, it is noted that the vertical portion 39 of element 28 carries at it outer side a vertical preferably sheet metal element 58, attached to flange 39 in suitable manner as by a first screw 59 and two additional screws 60. Element 58 contains an elongated guideway 61, dimensioned to receive the slidably guide latch element 49, to enable the previously mentioned movement of element 49 along its axis 149. A coil spring 62 has one and disposed about a reduced width end portion 63 of latch element 49, and has its opposite end bearing against an end wall 64 of slot 61, to yieldingly urge the latch element against the edge of element 17 which defines the teeth 47 and 48 and the intermediate notches. The sliding movement of notch element 49 is limited in the FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 position by engagement of a transverse pin 65 carried by the latch element with an end wall 66 of a slot 67 formed in portion 39 of element 28. Pin 65 may be of vertical portion 37 of element 17, to the position of FIG. 10

in which the latch element can swing downwardly past teeth 47 and 48. This lateral deflection of the latch element is resisted by a leaf spring 66, whose end 67 may be connected to parts 28 and 58 by the previously mentioned screw 59. The second end 68 of the leaf spring may be turned inwardly to effectively engage the latch element as illustrated in FIG. 10.

The second latch mechanism 27 at the opposite side of the head section 14 may be identical with the assembly 27 in FIGS. 4-10, and interconnects elements 23 and 29 the same way that the illustrated assembly 27 interconnects elements 17 and 28. Similarly, two additional identical assemblies interconnect the elements 18 and 29 and the elements 22 and 28, to mount the second head section 15 for upward swinging movement. If preferred, the two latch assemblies 27 associated with a particular one of the head sections, rather than being completely identical, may be reversals or mirror images of one another, so that for example in connection with head section 14, the latch element 49 associated with he vertical web of element 17 maybe located at the left side of that web, while the corresponding latch element 49 associated with the vertical web of part 23 may be located at the right side of that vertical web, in a symmetrical but not completely identical relationship.

To now describe the manner of use of the mattress, assume that first of all the two head sections 14 and 15 are both located in their horizontal positions, in which the mattress functions as a conventional mattress. If either of two persons using the two sides of the bed then desires to elevate his particular head section, for reading, television viewing or the like, he merely grasps the upper edge of that head section and pulls it upwardly to the desired setting. As the head section swings upwardly from the FIG. 4 position through the FIG. 5 position, the two carried latching elements 49 are deflected in the manner shown in FIG. 5, and ultimately fall into the first notch 44 to support the head section rigidly in that inclined first setting. Similarly, the headrest may be pulled farther upwardly to a second position in which the latch element is received within the second notch 45, or can be similarly supported in any number of additional corresponding positions if additional teeth are provided on the edge of the part which defines teeth 47 and 48.

If it is desired to lower the headrest from any inclined position to a horizontal setting, the head section is pulled upwardly to a position such as that shown in FIG. 6, in which the lower end of latch element 49 engages the inclined camming surface 57, and is deflected laterally by that cam surface to the position of FIG. 10. In this FIG. position, the latch element is free to move slightly farther toward the main pivotal axis 40 than was possible when the latch element is received within either of the notches 44 or 45. Thus, as the latch element moves downwardly past notches 44 and 45, the latch part cannot fall into those notches, and is held in its laterally deflected position by engagement with the outer side surface 69 of vertical portion 37 of element 17, until the latch element reaches the initial horizontal position in FIG. 4. In that position, the latch element can return laterally toward element 28 and into the lowermost notch 43, which is cut farther into the material of element 17, to project farther toward axis 40 and receive the latch element even in its position of slightly greater projection from part 58.

With reference more particularly to FIG. 6, the broken line 70 of that figure represents the arcuate path which is followed by the tip end 73 of latch element 49 as it swings downwardly past notches 44 and 45 from the FIG. 6 position to the FIG. 4 position. The previously mentioned stop pin 76 limits the spring pressed projection of latch element 49 in the position in which its tip end is located on the arcuate line 70. During upward movement of the head section and its latch part 49, the latch element is not permitted to reach this arcuate line 70, since neither of the notches 44 and 45 extends far enough into the material of element 17 to permit the tip end 71 of the latch element to reach line 70.

While a certain specific embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed as typical, the invention is of course not limited to this particular form, but rather is applicable broadly to all such variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

lclaim:

l. A bed structure or the like comprising a first section on which the lower portion of a persons body rests, a second section against which the upper portion of the body rests and which is mounted to swing upwardly and downwardly relative to the first section to a plurality of different positions, and latch mechanism operable as the second section is swung upwardly to support said second section successively in said plurality of different positions, said latch mechanism including releasing means responsive to swinging movement of said second section to a predetermined upper location to automatically release said latch mechanism to a condition enabling downward swinging movement of the second section past at least one of said positions thereof and to a lower position, said latch mechanism including a latch part and an element having a plurality of shoulders engageable with said latch part in said difi'erent positions of the second section, said releasing means including a cam surface formed on said element and engageable with said latch part beyond said shoulders to deflect the latch part laterally to a location for passing said shoulders on downward movement of the second section, there being a first spring yieldingly urging said latch part in a first direction into holding engagement with said shoulders, and a second spring yieldingly resisting said lateral deflection of said latch part.

2. A bed structure or the like comprising a first section on which the lower portion of a persons body rests, a second section against which the upper portion of the body rests and which is mounted to swing upwardly and downwardly relative to the first section to a plurality of different positions, and latch mechanism operable as the second section is swung upwardly to support said second section successively in said .plurality of different positions, said latch mechanism including releasing means responsive to swinging movement of said second section to a predetermined upper location to automatically release said latch mechanism to a condition enabling downward swinging movement of the second section past at least one of said positions thereof and to a lower position, said latch mechanism including a latch part, a structure having a plurality of teeth forming shoulders engageable in supporting relation with said latch part in said different positions of the second section, and a spring yieldingly urging said latch part against said teeth, said releasing means including a cam surface beyond said teeth adapted to cam said latch part laterally when the second section is at said upper location, said structure having a side surface then engageable with said latch part to hold it in a laterally deflected condition in which it cannot engage and be stopped by said shoulders upon downward movement of said second section, said latch part being movable slightly farther by said spring when in engagement with said side surface than when in engagement with said teeth.

3. A bed structure or the like as recited in claim 2, including a second spring urging said latch part laterally and resisting said deflection thereof by said cam surface.

4. A bed mattress comprising a first mattress section including a frame and cushioning material; a shorter second mattress section connected movably to said first section and also including a frame and cushioning material; said sections being adapted to be placed on and be supported by a bed in a condition in which said sections have top surfaces of a combined length to support the entire length of a users body with the lower portion of the users body resting on said first section and the upper portion of the user's body resting on said second section, and with said top surface of said first section lying essentially in a horizontal plane; hinge means connecting said frame of the second section to said frame of the first section for relative upward and downward swinging movement between a lowered position in which said top surface of the second section is essentially horizontal and lies essentially in the same horizontal plane as said top surface of said first section to form a continuation thereof, and an upwardly inclined position; and latch mechanism for releasably supporting said second section in'said upwardly inclined position and constructed to transmit load forces from said frame of the second section to said frame of the first section and to thereby support said second section in its inclined position from said first section through said latch mechanism.

5. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in which said cushioning material of each section includes springs and padding thereabove, said frame of each section extending essentially about and carrying the springs of that section.

6. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in which said cushioning material of each section includes springs and padding thereabove, said frame of each section extending es sentially about and carrying the springs of that section, and there being an outer covering of the mattress extending about the springs and the frame and across the upper side of said padding.

7. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in combination with a bedframe on which the mattress is supported.

8. A bed mattrem as recited in claim 4, in which said frame of each mattress section extends essentially along the periphery of said section at essentially the bottom of said cushioning material and spaced beneath the plane of said top surface of said first section.

9. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in which said frame of each mattress section extends essentially along the periphery of said section at essentially the bottom of said cushioning material and spaced beneath the plane of said top surface of said first section, said latch mechanism also being located at essentially the bottom of said cushioningmaterial and being spaced in its entirely beneath said plane of said top surface of said fiF-st section.

10. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in which said latch mechanism is constructed for release by movement of said second section of the mattress relative to said first section.

11. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in which said latch mechanism includes releasing means responsive to swinging movement of said second section to a predetermined upper location to automatically release said latch mechanism to a condition enabling downward swinging movement of the second section past said inclined position in which the latch mechanism can support the second section.

12. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in which said latch mechanism includes a latch part and a series of shoulders engageable successively with said latch part to support said second section in a series of different inclined positions.

13. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in which said latch mechanism includes a latch part, a plurality of shoulders engageable successively with said latch part to support said second section in a series of different inclined positions, and spring means yieldingly urging said latch part to an active latching position for holding engagement with said shoulders.

14. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in which said latch mechanism includes a latch part and a series of shoulders engageable successively with said latch part to support said second section in a series of inclined positions, and releasing means operable upon movement of said second section to a predetermined upper location to displace said latch part and said shoulders relative to one another to a relative orientation in which said latch part can pass at least one of said shoulders upon downward movement of the second section.

15. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in which said latch mechanism includes a latch part and a plurality of shoulders engageable successively with said latch part in said different positions of said second section, and cam means operable upon movement of said second section to a predetermined upper location to deflect said latch part laterally to a location in which said latch part can pass at least one of said shoulders upon downward movement of said second section.

16. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in which said latch mechanism includes a latch part and a plurality of shoulders engageable successively with said latch part to support said second section in a series of different inclined positions, said latch part being spring urged in a first direction toward a position for engaging said shoulders, there being means operable upon movement of said second section to an upper location to automatically deflect said latch part laterally in a second direction and to a location for passing said shoulders on downward movement of said second section.

17. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in which said latch mechanism includes a latch part and an element having a plurality of shoulders engageable with said latch part to support said second section in a series of different positions, there being a cam surface formed on said element and engageable with said latch part beyond said shoulders to deflect the latch part laterally to a location for passing said shoulders on downward movement of the second section.

18. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in which there are two of said shorter second sections connected to said first section in side-by-side relation for supporting the upper portions of the bodies of two persons and movable independently between inclined positions and lowered positions in which the top surfaces of all three sections lie in a common horizontal plane, there being separate latch mechanisms for independently supporting said two second sections in said inclined positions thereof from said first section through said latch mechanisms respectively.

19. A bed mattress as recited in claim 18, in which said separate latch mechanisms include a pair of latch mechanisms associated with each of said second sections and supporting opposite sides thereof.

20. A bed structure or the like comprising a first section on which the lower portion of a person's body rests, a second section against which the upper portion of the body rests and which is mounted to swing upwardly and downwardly relative to the first section to a plurality of different positions, and

latch mechanism operable as the second section is swung upwardly to support said second section successively in said plurality of different positions, said latch mechanism including a latch part and a coacting shoulder which are relatively movable in essentially a predetermined plane upon upward swinging movement of said second section and are engageable to support said second section in said inclined position, and releasing means operable upon swinging movement of said second section to a predetermined upper location to automatically displace said latch part and shoulder laterally relative to one another in a direction moving at least one of them out of said predetermined plane in which they move upon upward swinging movement of the second section, and to a relative orientation in which said latch part and shoulder can pass one another upon downward movement of the second section.

21. A bed structure as recited in claim 20, in which there are a plurality of shoulders engageable with said latch part to support the second section in a series of differently inclined positions and past all of which said latch part is relatively movable after said lateral displacement thereof. 

1. A bed structure or the like comprising a first section on which the lower portion of a person''s body rests, a second section against which the upper portion of the body rests and which is mounted to swing upwardly and downwardly relative to the first section to a plurality of different positions, and latch mechanism operable as the second section is swung upwardly to support said second section successively in said plurality of different positions, said latch mechanism including releasing means responsive to swinging movement of said second section to a predetermined upper location to automatically release said latch mechanism to a condition enabling downward swinging movement of the second section past at least one of said positions thereof and to a lower position, said latch mechanism including a latch part and an element having a plurality of shoulders engageable with said latch part in said different positions of the second section, said releasing means including a cam surface formed on said element and engageable with said latch part beyond said shoulders to deflect the latch part laterally to a location for passing said shoulders on downward movement of the second section, there being a first spring yieldingly urging said latch part in a first direction into holding engagement with said shoulders, and a second spring yieldingly resisting said lateral deflection of said latch part.
 2. A bed structure or the like comprising a first section on which the lower portion of a person''s body rests, a second section against which the upper portion of the body rests and which is mounted to swing upwardly and downwardly relative to the first section to a plurality of different positions, and latch mechanism operable as the second section is swung upwardly to support said second section successively in said plurality of different positions, said latch mechanism including releasing means responsive to swinging movement of said second section to a predetermined upper location to automatically release said latch mechanism to a condition enabling downward swinging movement of the second section past at least one of said positions thereof and to a lower position, said latch mechanism including a latch part, a structure having a plurality of teeth forming shoulders engageable in supporting relation with said latch part in said different positions of the second section, and a spring yieldingly urging said latch part against said teeth, said releasing means including a cam surface beyond said teeth adapted to cam said latch part laterally when the second section is at said upper location, said structure having a side surface then engageable with said latch part to hold it in a laterally deflected condition in which it cannot engage and be stopped by said shoulders upon downward movement of said second section, said latch part being movable slightly farther by said spring when in engagement with said side surface than when in engagement with said teeth.
 3. A bed structure or the like as recited in claim 2, including a second spring urging said latch part laterally and resisting said deflection thereof by said cam surface.
 4. A bed mattress comprising a first mattress section including a frame and cushioning material; a shorter second mattress section connected movably to said first section and also including a frame and cushioning material; said sections being adapted to be placed on and be supported by a bed in a condition in which said sections have top surfaces of a combined length to support the entire length of a user''s body with the lower portion of the user''s body resting on said first section and the upper portion of the user''s body resting on said second section, and with said top surface of said first section lying essentially in a horizontal plane; hinge means connecting said frame of the second section to said frame of the first section for relative upward and downward swinging movement between a lowered position in which said top surface of the second section is essentially horizontal and lies essentially in the same horizontal plane as said top surface of said first section to form a continuation thereof, and an upwardly inclined position; and latch mechanism for releasably supporting said second section in said upwardly inclined position and constructed to transmit load forces from said frame of the second section to said frame of the first section and to thereby support said second section in its inclined position from said first section through said latch mechanism.
 5. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in which said cushioning material of each section includes springs and padding thereabove, said frame of each section extending essentially about and carrying the springs of that section.
 6. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in which said cushioning material of each section includes springs and padding thereabove, said frame of each section extending essentially about and carrying the springs of that section, and there being an outer covering of the mattress extending about the springs and the frame and across the upper side of said padding.
 7. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in combination with a bedframe on which the mattress is supported.
 8. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in which said frame of each mattress section extends essentially along the periphery of said section at essentially the bottom of said cushioning material and spaced beneath the plane of said top surface of said first section.
 9. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in which said frame of each mattress section extends essentially along the periphery of said section at essentially the bottom of said cushioning material and spaced beneath the plane of said top surface of said first section, said latch mechanism also being located at essentially the bottom of said cushioning material and being spaced in its entirely beneath said plane of said top surface of said first section.
 10. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in which said latch mechanism is constructed for release by movement of said second section of the mattress relative to said first section.
 11. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in which said latch mechanism includes releasing means responsive to swinging movement of said second section to a predetermined upper location to automatically release said latch mechanism to a condition enabling downward swinging movement of the second section past said inclined position in which the latch mechanism can support the second section.
 12. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in which said latch mechanism includes a latch part and a series of shoulders engageable successively with said latch part to support said second section in a series of different inclined positions.
 13. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in which said latch mechanism includes a latch part, a plurality of shoulders engageable successively with said latch part to support said second section in a series of different inclined positions, and spring means yieldingly urging said latch part to an active latching position for holding engagement with said shoulders.
 14. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in which said latch mechanism includes a latch part and a series of shoulders engageable successively with said latch part to support said second section in a series of inclined positions, and releasing means operable upon movement of said second section to a predetermined upper location to displace said latch part and said shoulders relative to one another to a relative orientation in which said latch part can pass at least one of said shoulders upon downward movement of the second section.
 15. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in which said latch mechanism includes a latch part and a plurality of shoulders engageable successively with said latch part in said different positions of said second section, and cam means operable upon movement of said second section to a predetermined upper location to deflect said latch part laterally to a location in which said latch part can pass at least one of said shoulders upon downward movement of said second section.
 16. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in which said latch mechanism includes a latch part and a plurality of shoulders engageable successively with said latch part to support said second section in a series of different inclined positions, said latch part being spring urged in a first direction toward a position for engaging said shoulders, there being means operable upon movement of said second section to an upper location to automatically deflect said latch part laterally in a second direction and to a location for passing said shoulders on downward movement of said second section.
 17. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in which said latch mechanism includes a latch part and an element having a plurality of shoulders engageable with said latch part to support said second section in a series of different positions, there being a cam surface formed on said element and engageable with said latch part beyond said shoulders to deflect the latch part laterally to a location for passing said shoulders on downward movement of the second section.
 18. A bed mattress as recited in claim 4, in which there are two of said shorter second sections connected to said first section in side-by-side relation for supporting the upper portions of the bodies of two persons and movable independently between inclined positions and lowered positions in which the top surfaces of all three sections lie in a common horizontal plane, there being separate latch mechanisms for independently supporting said two second sections in said inclined positions thereof from said first section through said latch mechanisms respectively.
 19. A bed mattress as recited in claim 18, in which said separate latch mechanisms include a pair of latch mechanisms associated with each of said second sections and supporting opposite sides thereof.
 20. A bed structure or the like comprising a first section on which the lower portion of a person''s body rests, a second section against which the upper portion of the body rests and which is mounted to swing upwardly and downwardly relative to the first section to a plurality of different positions, and latch mechanism operable as the second section is swung upwardly to support said second section successively in said plurality of different positions, said latch mechanism including a latch part and a coacting shoulder which are relatively movable in essentially a predetermined plane upon upward swinging movement of said second section and are engageable to support said second section in said inclined position, and releasing means operable upon swinging movement of said second section to a predetermined upper location to automatically displace said latch part and shoulder laterally relative to one another in a direction moving at least one of them out of said predetermined plane in which they move upon upward swinging movement of the second section, and to a relative orientation in which said latch part and shoulder can pass one another upon downward movement of the second section.
 21. A bed structure as recited in claim 20, in which there are a plurality of shoulders engageable with said latch part to support the second section in a series of differently inclined positions and past all of which said latch part is relatively movable after said lateral displacement thereof. 